Page 17 of Villainous Soul

Challenge accepted, you fucking bastard.

Bilderberg was mine.

“In marriage, you give of yourself freely and generously into the hands of the one you love. The trust you share is a precious gift to be treasured. Today you are affirming your love for each other, acknowledging that you are stronger together than you are apart and that you wish to share all life’s joys and challenges together,” Lily said. “Please join hands.”

I took Evie’s hands in mine, feeling the tension and stiffness roll off her. “Keir, please make this declaration to Evie.”

She looked down while I spoke. “I solemnly and sincerely swear that I, Keiran Ash Wilson accept you, Evie-” I paused. I didn’t know her full name.

“Evie Erin Young,” she whispered, catching on to my mistake.

I started over. “I solemnly and sincerely swear that I, Keiran Ash Wilson take you, Evie Erin Young as my lawful wedded wife to the exclusion of all others.”

“Evie,” Lily said.

She continued to look down, so I reached over and tilted her chin up. “Look at me,” I hissed softly.

Her eyes shone with defiance, or perhaps it was disdain. I didn’t trust her, and my fingers gripped her hand so hard I felt her delicate bones shift underneath. “I solemnly and sincerely swear that I, Evie Erin Young take you, Keiran Ash Wilson as my lawful husband to the exclusion of all others.”

If looks could kill, I would be dead.

“With this material, I bind Keirand Evie to the vows they made to each other.” Lily took the tartan cloth Alan handed her and wrapped it around our wrists, linking us together. “The binding is not formed by this knot but by your vows. You hold in your hands and hearts the making and breaking of this union. Just as your hands are now bound together, so too are your lives. May you be forever one, sharing in all things, in love and loyalty for all time to come. May your marriage be blessed with patience and dedication, forgiveness and respect, love and understanding.”

Lily unwrapped the tartan and handed it to me. “You have now both entered a solemn and binding contract and by virtue of these declarations made in my presence and in the presence of your witnesses. I have pleasure in pronouncing you husband and wife. Keir, you may kiss your bride.”

Everyone stood and cheered as I took Evie in my arms and kissed her. Refreshments were offered, and a cake was brought out. Sir Leonard called us over to the corner. “Congratulations Keir. I didn’t think you would go through with it.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate me.”

The old man handed us each a pen. “Of course, it’s not official without the paperwork.”

“Of course.” I signed the damn papers and watched as Evie completed hers with a shaky hand. “We should get on with our meeting tonight and the nominations now that the festivities are over,” I said.

“The nominations can wait until tomorrow,” Sir Leonard countered. “You’ll have other plans tonight with your bride, I assume. I wouldn’t want any reason for an annulment. Let’s wrap this up.”

“That’s very considerate of you.” I turned to the group. “Gentlemen, in light of tonight’s event, we will start our meeting tomorrow morning. Alan will see that you each get a new itinerary.”

I took Evie’s hand, and we went upstairs to the group’s cheers.

* * *

I had never consideredmarriage a day in my life. Even with my fake engagement with Margot, I never worried about it actually happening. And now, here I sat with what society considered one of the most binding contracts in life. I was no longer my own entity but was now bound to another with rights and responsibilities. And all this without a prenuptial agreement. I admired Evie’s tenacity when she asked for five million dollars, it was a bold move, but it would mean nothing if the paperwork we signed wasn’t stopped.

Bloody fucking Leonard.

“How old are you anyway?” I asked as I got up to pour us each a drink.

“Twenty-three,” she said. I handed her the crystal tumbler of whiskey. Her nose turned up as she sniffed it.

Twenty-three.

Christ, she was young. Younger than I thought, but not a child. I was thirty-four. She acted older, but then again, she had what I would call an old soul. “I can get you something else, wine or a sherry?”

“It’s fine.”

“You’ve been around money before.” I was surprised at dinner that she knew the proper social cues, considering our first encounter on the plane. She understood the subtle signifiers that indicated to people you were one of them.

“My mother came from money. She and my father are both from Ireland.”

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